Monets Wine Bistro — Restaurant in Exeter

After a long day of hiking at Sequoia National Park, my husband and I were looking for a delicious dinner as a reward. We were tired and sweaty, but it didn't matter. As we dined and sipped it was obvious everyone at Monet's is treated like a regular. For such a small venue the menu is extensive - Allison happily provided her recommendations at our request and they didn't disappoint.

My husband ordered a glass of the Ex unoaked chardonnay and I ordered the Opia, and both were crisp and delightful. The croque monsieur was everything I hoped for, with crispy bread, gooey cheese, blistered tomatoes, and a thick slice of ham sandwiched in between. The seasonal salad with white peaches, goat cheese, and house vinaigrette was refreshing and light, a nice contrast to the savory open face sandwich. My husband's lemon cavatappi (that I eagerly sampled) was creamy and light, and the hefty portion of pasta was cooked perfectly.

We closed our meal with a duo of desserts - everything sounded amazing and we couldn't choose just one. At Allison's recommendation we chose the lavender cheesecake and the salted caramel chocolate tart. Both portions were massive and we struggled to finish them. The cheesecake was absolutely divine - airy and light like an angel food cake, creamy like a cheesecake, and topped with a perfect, thick layer of lavender sugar glaze. Freshly made whipped cream, blueberries, and a sprinkle of lavender finished off the dish. The tart was the perfect opposite - a crisp crust filled with a thick layer of dense chocolate and topped with a delicate layer of house made salted caramel, also served with a side of whipped cream.

I wish we lived close enough that we could be "regulars" at Monet's, but the vacation memories...

So, I reviewed Monet's previously and gave them a review of being outstanding. Today I went in celebration of my birthday and I have to say, I wish I could leave 50 reviews just to get my point across about how superb this place is! Really, from the moment you walk in the door you are treated like a friend (which you may actually be!) Every dish I was brought was absolutely stunning both visually and taste wise. I should have taken photos, but trust me... beautiful! Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly, and they even put a pink (!yay!) candle in my lavendar cheesecake. Every time I come here I am blown away by how happy I am when I leave. I have never felt rushed to leave, I have always felt like the owners and waitstaff make a genuine effort to connect with you and really get you the dining experience you didn't realize you wanted and needed. Forget all of those overpriced uppity joints in Visalia. Monets is excellent and the pricing is reasonable considering the quality you get.This is truly a 5 star dining experience in the little town of Exeter and they earned every single one of those stars!...

I was visiting exeter, looking for antiques. I was feeling pretty hungry so I asked a local shop owner where the best place to eat was. She raved about Monet's Bistro and being that I was foreign to this little podunk town, l was inclined to take her enthusiastic recommendation. I coul have not been more surprised. Forget that the decor is wonderfully done, and that the service was exceptional! The food was devine! My french onion soup was not too mild, and not to overpowering like most. The best way to describe it was like a warm hug for my palette. One of the best I've ever had. I could have left the restaurant at that point and been totally satisfied. Yet I continued my gastronomic adventure and dove into a plate of lobster ravioli, coupled with a nice white wine. If one could reach a state of zen through a dish, this would be the dish. Simply amazing. If you do find yourself in the area and hungry, I could not recommend Monet's Bistro enough! Do not leave Monet's without trying the lavender cheesecake. All of the deserts and bread are made from scratch at the restaurant. You will not be...